Hobbyhorse pays tribute to Donovan with a new cover version of “Sunshine Superman” with full psychedelic arrangement including electric sitar, harpsichord, middle eastern percussion, harmonium and female lead vocal.

“We have been big fans of Donovan for many years, and wanted to pay tribute to this creative musician and songwriter by recording a cover of his famous song, “Sunshine Superman”, says lead singer and percussionist, Annie. “We love this song, and have played it at many parties and music jams. It always makes people happy.”

You may be wondering how Hobbyhorse’s version compares to Donovan’s. “Our version has a dreamier and more sultry feel with a female lead vocal,” explains Annie. “But it has a similar psychedelic folk aesthetic.”

Donovan has been a big inspiration to Hobbyhorse as a well as countless other folk and rolk musicians. Hobbyhorse’s sound is partially modeled after Donovan’s mystical psychedelic folk/rock. He has also inspired their musical and artisitc philosophy of experimentation, creativity and spirituality,

“We recently saw Donovan in concert and were thrilled to see that he is as talented as ever,” says lead guitarist and arranger, Phil Campbell. “We hope he continues to make great music and inspire musicicans for a long time to come.”

Hobbyhorse’s version of “Sunshine Superman” is free to liten to on their website www.hobbyhorsecafe.com An original watercolor painting by Annie called “Donovan Bursting Through His Guitar” is also available for viewing on their website.

Hobbyhorse is a progressive folk/rock duo from the San Francisco Bay Area. They also host an online music and art venue called Hobbyhorse Caf? &#8800; www.hobbyhorsecafe.com

Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Elvis’ death, Texas’ #1 Biker Rally Band, Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards have recorded a new Jambone Records CD, “Going Back To Memphis: A Biker Band Tribute To Elvis” at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Since the early nineties, Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards’ high-energy Texas Blues and southern-fried rock ‘n roll have made them one of the top biker bands, performing at major rallies, dealerships and swap meets across the country along with David Allan Coe, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Bad Company, Mark Farner (Grand Funk) and others. They have earned many awards and garnered seven # 1 songs on Bluesrock charts.

In 2003, the band was recruited to perform at the former Elvis Presley’s Club on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. After seeing the audience’s overwhelming response to Kelton’s own interpretations of Elvis songs, Graceland insisted that Kelton perform 90% Elvis songs in his nightly show. The tourists loved the versions, and the reps from Elvis Presley Fan Clubs gave the band “two thumbs up!”

Whenever the band was on break from Elvis Presley’s Club, they toured the country performing at bike rallies, where their high-energy southern rock versions of Elvis songs were enthusiastically accepted by legions of rowdy rebels in black leather.

“We changed some arrangements, added guitar and harmonica solos giving those songs a whole new, grittier feel. We even added a bass guitar solo on Hound Dog, and it rocks!” says Kelton. “Bikers always request our versions of Elvis songs”, says Kelton. “There’s nothing like having a dozen Biker Babes up on stage with us bumping and grinding to one of our Elvis songs!”

With 2007 commemorating the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death, and Graceland Harley-Davidson unveiling the official “Elvis Harley” during Elvis week in Memphis, it is only natural that Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards be the ultimate band to record the ultimate Biker Band Tribute to Elvis.

“Going Back To Memphis” showcases Kelton’s own, unique houserockin’ Texas blues and southern rock interpretations of songs previously recorded by Elvis, including Jailhouse Rock, Polk Salad Annie, Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, Steamroller and others. The title track, “Going back To Memphis” is a Kelton original about the second coming of Elvis that hit #1 on internet Rockabilly Charts.

Wildflower Records artist Amy Speace‘s CD, “Songs For Bright Street” is being officially released throughout Europe this summer. On June 29th, the album will be available through O-tone / Edel in Germany and Austria, with an August 27th release for all other European markets through ADA/Ryko. Amy is featured on the cover of the July issue of Edel (Otone’s Distribution network) Magazine as one of their lead summer releases.

Her single “Step Out Of The Shade” is currently receiving very good airplay across Germany, with some stations spinning the song up to 25 times a week. Amy has also been receiving rave reviews in German press, including Home of Rock, as well as Sweden’s Musiklandet and Trots Allt.

“A fully convincing Singer-Songwriter / Roots-Rock, in short Americana album, that excels with a refreshing variety, superb musicians and wonderfully crafted lyrics. Speace’s lyrical elegance and the inventiveness of her finely selected metaphors intertwine very convincingly with the craft of her band, The Tearjerks and give each of the 13 songs its very unique identity. Boredom never comes near the listener, of course.” Home of Rock, March 16, 2007

“Amy has the same immediate gravitas as the genre’s queen, Lucinda Williams. But the best tracks on Songs for bright street are testimony to the fact that this is an artist who could well bloom into someone really big in the future.” Musiklandet, March 16, 2007

“If Lucinda Williams is the queen of Americana, Kathleen Edwards is about to be challenged for the title of princess by this New York resident. Imagine both their spunk in combination with Roseanne Cash’s elegance and you get Amy Speace. That she gets helped by Gary Louris from the Jayhawks on the duet is clearly a sign. We’ll be hearing a lot more about Speace.” Trots Allt, February 2007

We will be awarding one Grand Prize package, winner takes all. The winning song / artist will receive the Grand Prize package which will include a 12 week full PR / media relations campaign (print and online) in the UK and Europe from Vigilante Music ($8,000 value), a 4 week digital promotion campaign (on-line radio and media) from Inside Strategy ($2,000 value), a premier “Featured Artist” advertising package from AirPlay Direct (value $1,500). and the Indianapolis Metal Fest will provide an opening live performance slot for the winner (invaluable…!). The Grand Prize package is valued at $11,500.00 plus the appearance at the Indy Metal Fest…!

This contest is FREE and very simple… the best song wins. The only three requirements to enter are that you must be an AirPlay Direct artist / label member (free to join), your music must fall into the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal genre and you must submit your AirPlay Direct DPK prior to the official deadline of July 25th. Whether you are an indie artist or a well established record label with a roster, pick your best songs, you can submit from 1 to 3 tracks per artist. Submit you AirPlay Direct Digital Promo Kit / DPK to office@airplaydirect.com . Please make sure to note that you are submitting for the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal contest. Deadline for submissions is July 25th. The winner will be announced and “Featured” in the August Radio Programmers Newsletter, as well as in a company press release to all media outlets.

The “Initiative Musik” has been given the go-ahead. The Bundestag (lower house of the German parliament) has approved the necessary funding. The partnership between cultural policy and the music business aims to strengthen the position of popular music in Germany. One of its main features is the selective promotion of exports of German music. The initiative will be officially launched in September at Popkomm 2007 &#8800; whose partner country this year is Germany!

“The ‘Initiative Musik’ provides an important signal for music-makers in Germany”, says Katja Bittner, Director of Popkomm, referring to the decision by the Bundestag. “As one of the industry’s most important meeting places anywhere in the world, Popkomm is the ideal venue for focusing international attention on German music. We are delighted to working closely together with the ?Initiative Musik’, especially in view of the fact that Germany is this year’s partner country!”

On September 12th- 13th the international “Media in Transition Conference 2007” opens its doors. The focus of the conference is the structural transition in the media industry. Innovative media companies, researchers and strategists from UK, USA and Europe are discussing the present and future of Internet media at the Goethe Forum in Munich.

Jeremy Geelan, Founder and Publisher of Social Computing Magazine, writes about the Media in Transition Conference 07: “Since the big growth potential in media business lies in the area of user generated content, it is refreshing to see a conference taking shape in Europe that offers attendees insight into the techniques of the so-called Social Web, or “Live Web” &#8800; Web 2.0, Social Networks, Blogs, Video/Audio, Digital Rights, Rich Media, P2P, Mobile Web”.

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